Two big things happened this month

Adam, my partner, the other half of @circles_and_lines_collage, father, painter and enthusiastic runner, finished the Boston Marathon in just over 4 and a half hours.  He raised over $8,000 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and he still likes running.  I'm proud of him. Training for a marathon never seems like a fun thing to me but he found time and stayed committed and crossed the finish line almost smiling. His fundraising wraps up May 18th so there is still time to donate if you are able to help him reach the $10,000 mark. Or join us on World Collage Day to donate and celebrate.

I also am fully-self-employed again.  By choice.

Keep Writing subscribers may remember many questions about jobs and identity.  My brief time with a full-time job was complicated, of course. I had health insurance for 15 months without interruption--nearly unheard of in my adult life, a great privilege that only solidified the absurdity of healthcare being tied to employment. I had my teeth cleaned by the same dentist twice.  I paid down some debt.  I met people and made friends at time when there were still mask mandates and limits on indoor gatherings.   But I was also injured at work.   

Concussion recovery is slow but continues. 

I am very very lucky to have support from a great physical therapist, doctor and my family and friends. I have been taking mini-trips to spend time in the quiet forest and to reset my brain and habits.  One day I will have a million thoughts on daily practices that balance a productive and restful day but I am still figuring that out.  Too much computer time or driving or math can really wear me out, and cause debilitating headaches. But I have a lot of tools for coping and lessening the effects--having more control around my employment is a big one!  I am already scheming about classes, a recorded class, projects and markets. A friend referred to this as "sunny day planning"—  the optimism of what you can accomplish when you feel great versus the reality check of a rainy day, or in my case, a symptom-heavy day. Being self-employed means more freedom in making my schedule, more time for recovery, but also there are some jobs I can't do right now, possibly ever.

One of the hardest symptoms for me is a difficulty in communication. When I am tired my sentences get shorter but not necessarily more accurate, as if I am too tired for the right words. It means I can sound dismissive, grouchy, and it may be hard to understand what I am trying to say (and I don't have the patience to explain! Like being hangry!) But I have a few in-person events coming up. I am hoping that all I have learned about pacing and breaks will make for a fun day selling things zines and collage to old and new friends.